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SBF promoting S'pore as Maritime Silk Road hub at CAEXPO

THE Singapore Business Federation (SBF) is leading a local delegation at the 13th China-Asean Expo (Sept 11-14) in Nanning, Guangxi to promote Singapore as a hub for the 21st century Maritime Silk Road.

CAEXPO is an international economic and trade event to promote economic cooperation between Asean and China through platforms such as investment promotion seminars and trade exhibitions.

Twenty-five Singapore companies are being featured at the Singapore national pavilion, which is themed "Singapore - 21st century Maritime Silk Road and Modern Connectivity Hub". The companies hail from industries such as hospitality and tourism, info-communication technology, infrastructure, professional services and transportation, as well as the three China-Singapore government-to-government projects. Meanwhile, 11 companies and eight trade associations and chambers are featured at the Commercial Pavilion.

China has been Asean's largest trading partner for seven straight years, with trade expanding at 18.5 per cent annually, from US$7.9 billion in 1991 to US$472 billion in 2015, SBF highlighted in a release. Last year, an agreement was signed to boost trade in the China-Asean Free Trade Area to US$1 trillion in total bilateral trade by 2020.

SS Teo, chairman of SBF, said: "Through this mission, we hope to help businesses better understand and participate in the One Belt, One Road initiative, and showcase Singapore's strengths as a modern connectivity hub to investors from China and the region."

Koh Poh Koon, Minister of State for National Development and Trade & Industry, attended the opening ceremony and toured the Singapore pavilions at CAEXPO.

A Singapore Day Seminar was held on Sept 12, featuring speakers from International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, Economic Development Board, Singapore Tourism Board, Beibu Gulf-PSA International Container Terminal Co Ltd, as well as professional companies, highlighting the nation's expertise in areas such as arbitration, finance and logistics.